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Thursday, January 23, 2014

The Untouched Paradise of Jomalig Island

The beaches of Jomalig Island are
stunning and many have a hint of pinkness to them, especially at sunset

Jomalig Island lies in the Lamon
Bay off the coast of Quezon Province. The island is the last in a series of
islands which jut out into the Pacific Ocean. The island is a haven for those who
love nature, the beauty of silence and the prospect of pure solitude.

The word Jomalig is pronounced
“humalig” for the Visayan word “to kiss”. Legend to the naming of this island
is that the ancient leader of the island had a beautiful daughter. A young man
from a neighboring island wanted to marry the girl but her father commanded the
boy to a challenge. The boy was to spear 3 fish from all the ponds on the
entire land mass. The young man took the challenge in defeat. Hopeless, he
requested the beautiful girl to kiss him. The people of the island shouted “humalig”
and the beautiful girl kissed the young man. This historic event is still noted
today by many elders who call Jomalig Island their home. The variation of the
name is due to the American variation of the word that is known today.

Jomalig Island is located 180
kilometers east of Manila but getting there creates a bit of a challenge. Accessible
by air and sea the main port and airport are in close proximity of one another
near the northwestern edge of the island. The airport is meant for small
private crafts and as the strip is small and short. It has only been since the
1950’s that Jomalig has been developed into plots for development. This action
however did not spur any real development and the island retains no actual resorts
or modern structures.

A ferry trip to Jomalig takes a
few hours as everyone must take the boat to Patnanongan Island first. From
Patnanongan the connecting ferry will put you on the island of Jomalig. In all,
the entire trip by boat takes around 5 hours if nothing delays you. Once on the
island you can easily see why so many nature lovers come to this quaint and
peaceful land. There are less than 10,000 inhabitants on Jomalig and those that
come there are greeted with big smiles and friendly service.

The beaches of Jomalig Island are
stunning and many have a hint of pinkness to them, especially at sunset. Two
beaches are noted as popular destinations, Kanaway and Salibungot. The pinkness
on these beaches is due to a stunning corals that hug the sea floors around
Jomalig and are special to this island. Those that love their time on the beach
will also love snorkeling, diving and even surfing. This hidden little treasure
of an island is fun for all and unique in ways that are untold to the world. Many
photographs have been taken on Kanaway beach as the sands are naturally
sculpted in ripples which make for a beautiful photo opportunity for anyone.

The island of Jomalig is not for
everyone as most will have to sleep in
tents along the shorelines as there are very few places to stay. Those that
come to the island should find a local guide to take them to the stunning
waters of Bigwangan Lake. Electric is only available from 5pm to 1am as it is
generated by diesel power

Talisoy is the most populated of
towns throughout the island. Here a wet
market selling fresh fish and vegetables will
give anyone a good supply on their stay in Jomalig Island. Those camping out on
Jomalig beaches should speak with the local government before doing so. This
island is very friendly and no issues are noted other than those by juveniles.

Fine your way to Jomalig Island
and venture throughout the entire archipelago to see the beauty of a land that
is barely touched. This experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity for
anyone vacationing in the Philippine Islands.